Cigarette packages



Jan. 21, 1958 I P. w. BRAMHILL 2,820,545

CIGARETTE PACKAGES Filed Feb. 18, 1957 2 Sheetsheet 1 Jan. 21, 19581 1 w. BRAMHILL 2,820,545

CIGARETTE PACKAGES Filed Feb. 18, '1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q2770 all?! i {71/ B/w/Mmu.

United States Patent "'0 CIGARETTE PACKAGES Percy W. Bramhill, Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada Application February 18, 1957, Serial No. 640,870

11 Claims. (Cl. 206-41) This invention relates to improvements in cigarette packages or containers of the type which contain two rows or series of cigarettes, and especially to cigarettes which are individually protected against moisture loss by the manner in which they are overwrapped in foil.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a package with a semi-partition which will divide the two rows of cigarettes and will maintain each cigarette in an upright position even when adjacent cigarettes have been removed.

Another object is to provide a cigarette retaining means associated with the said partition which will permit easy insertion of the cigarettes during packaging and will facilitate withdrawal of one or more cigarettes as required without dislodging the remaining cigarettes.

- Still another object is to provide a double closure means for said package which will permit exposure of only one row of the cigarettes at a time, thus providing protection for the remaining row of cigarettes while the first row is made accessible to the user.

A feature of this invention consists in the forma-. tion of a package or container of the character described from two blanks of cardboard or like material witha substantial reduction in the amount of cardboard employed as compared to conventional containers of this type and of a substantial reduction in waste of said material. This reduction in material costs makes the production of a package according to the present invention most desirable and advantageous over the conventional type of package.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing-the interior of one side of the package partially exposed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the reverse side of the package shown in Fig. 1, also showing a portion of the interior exposed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the package in partially assembled relation.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, of a blank from which a portion of the package including the partition is formed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the blank shown in Fig. 5 is folded to form the partition.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a second blank from which the blank 10 is stamped to provide a pair of vertical partition forming panels 12 and 13 connected by an intermediate panel which is vertically foldable at lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 to form three panel sections 18, 19 and 20. On the opposite end of panel 12 is an outer panel 21 defined by a vertical fold line 22. On the opposite end of panel 13 is an outer panel 23 defined by a vertical fold line 24. From the lower edges of panels 12 and 13 there are a series of triangular toothlike projections 25 which are foldable at their base connection to panels 12 and 13, as indicated at 26, so as to permit folding of the teeth at an angle greater than from the plane of said panels 12 and 13 respectively. Each tooth 25 is laterally spaced from the adjacent tooth a predetermined distance to provide a saddle as indicated at 27. At the upper edge of panel 12 there is provided a top wall forming panel 30 defined by a fold line 31 and a front closure flap 32 extending from panel 30 to a second fold line 33. Similarly, at the upper edge of panel 13 there is provided a top wall forming panel 35 defined by a fold line 36 and a front closure flap 37 extending from panel 35 at a second fold line 38. Flaps 32 and 37 are provided with lift tabs 34 and 39 respectively. The fold lines 31 and 36 perforate the blank at spaced intervals to permit removal of the combined top wall panels and front fiaps 30-32 and 3537, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3 (particularly with reference to panel and flap 3537), and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

One surface of the blank 10 is provided with gum lines, including longitudinally extending gum lines 40 on panel 13, vertical gum lines 41 on panel sections 18 and 20, and vertical gum lines 42 on panels 21 and 23 (see Fig. 5). As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the other surface of blank 10 is provided with gummed areas, including gum lines 43 on panel section 19 (see Fig. 6) and gum spots 44 adiacent the marginal edge of front flaps 32 and 37 remote from their respective top wall panels 30 and 35 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 6).

The blank 10 is folded along the lines 14, 15, 16 and 17, as indicated in Fig. 5 so that the gum lines 41 on the surfaces of panels 18 and 20 are in adhesive engagement with the corresponding surface of panel 19 and so that the corresponding surfaces of panels 12 and 13 are in face-to-face relation with the gum lines 40 of panel 13 in adhesive engagement with panel 12. Panels 21 and 23 are then folded in opposite directions at lines 22 and 24 respectively, to conjointly provide an end abutment wall having gum lines 42 exposed on the outwardly facing surface of said abutment wall similar to the gum lines 43 (Fig. 6) which are exposed on the opposite abutment wall defined by panel 19.

The second blank 11 is formed to provide two main side wall panels 50 and 51 on either side of a narrow bottom wall panel 53 defined by fold lines 54, a pair of end wall panels 55 defined by fold lines 56 at either end of side wall panel 50, a pair of end wall panels 57 defined by fold lines 58 at either end of side wall panel 51 and a pair of bottom wall reinforcing panels 59, each being hinged to one of said end wall panels 57 at fold line 60 and extending across the breadth of bottom wall panel 53 to the adjacent edge of a corresponding end wall 55 and being free of engagement with said bottom wall panel 53 and the corresponding end wall 55. Side wall panels 50 and 51 are recessed substantially across the length of their sides remote from bottom wall panel 53 as indicated at 60.

One surface of blank 11 is provided with gummed areas, including gum lines 61 extending longitudinally of end wall panels 55 and gum spots 62 on bottom wall panel 53 substantially adjacent either end thereof.

To assemble a package, the blank 10 is first folded and secured as above described to form a partition 63 in.

thepartition formed vfrom blank; 10 is insented-therebetween with the gum lines '4l on'couter panels -21 and 23 and gum lines 43 i on panel 19 secured to: the opposing inner=surfaces of end-walls 57,;as shown in 'Fig. 4. i'lhe Upper-.edg'es ofpanels 19" and 21 are'substantially'flush with the. upper edgesfof- 'the corresponding end walls 57. A row or series of cigarettes 65 is then inserted between the'side wall 51 and panel :13 of partition 63 so thateach cigarette is wedgedin a saddle'iTbetween adjacent te'eth 25, except for a cigaretteat either-end which i's we dgetl between an end'paneland an adjacent teeth -25. Thebott-ornwall reinforcing panels ;:59 are ben't elohg fold' 'lines 60 and bottom -wa1l 55jis Ebent along one line 54-=adjaeent panel 51=-to permit-gum spots =62. to' secure saidwreim forcingpanels 59tothe-bottom wallfsii. V

'A second row or series of cigarettes 'Gti-is theninserted in the saddles 27 between teeth25- ofthe panelllofpar tition 63. Side wall panel 50 i's foldedalong the second fold line 54 and-end wallpane1s-55-are folded along lines 56 to secure the gum lines 61-of end wall panels 55 to the outer surface ofthe---adjacent-end-wallpanels 57. In this manner -*the cigarettes-66 are disposed between side wall '50 and panel 12 f partition 63 andare wedged in the saddles 27 between the -teeth25 of panel 12. The top panels '30 and 35 and flaps 32 -and 37 arethenffolded along their respective foldlines-so -thatcach;top panel and-its attached-flap encloses one sideoffthetop portion of the package Gum spots 447cm each-ilap secure"the latter to the outer surface of one of the sid'eiwalls ll and 51. Flaps 32 -and 37 mayalso, be secured at one end by dutyor excise "stamps; as indicated at 68 inFig: 1',

This arrangement'has several-advantageous features not hitherto provided by the conventional cigarette package. Firstly, the package is'divided into two compartments which can be opened independently of one. another and without providing a full-length partition wallqof either single or double thickness of the conventional type packages. Secondly, it provides a singlejside and end wall shell as compared to other conventional packages in which the cigarettes are divided intoseparatelyformed complete shells usually hingedly connected along an adjacent edge of each shell.

Another feature is that each half of the package can be opened without disturbing the other half. In this connection, for example, flap 32 can be'disengaged from'the side wall panel 30 by a pull on tab' 34 to expose only the cigarettes 66, as shown inFigQZV Alternatively, fiap37 can be disengaged bya pull on tab'39 to Xp0se only the cigarettes.6j5,'as shown in'Fig. 3. If desired, thetop panel and flap can be completely removed by severing along the. scoreiline' between hi partition forming panel and the top panel connected thereto. An example Qfithis is illustrated in Fig.3 whereinjtop panel 35 andflapv37 are removed by severing front panel 13 along .theper" forated fold line 36 Similarly top paneL-SQ and ffiap 32 can be severed from panel 12 along thev perforated fold line 31. i Still another feature resides in the provision of. the recess 64) extending substantially acrossthe-upper margin of side panels; 50 andgSl which, after the flap has been displaced, permits easy accessto the cigarettes contained in the corresponding-halter.the packageysince the upper ends of the cigarettes project above this recessedportion of the side wall. i i

-The arrangement of the cigarettes in' the saddles 27 formed between the teeth '25 is also another andimportant feature. As will be se enthese teethextend upwardly and outwardly from the partition 63-towardsthe opposing sidawalli ofi the package. Thaseach cigarette is indc 5 ascents engagement therewith .against unintentional displacement pendently'supported in an upright position even when an adjacent cigarette has been removed.

The disposition of the teeth as above described is of particular importance since, it not only facilitates the insertion of the cigarettes'from the bottom so that their upper ends can be properly positioned within the package with respect to the uppenedge of said package, but also facilitates the removal of each cigarette as required. On the other hand',-whilean-upward pull'on a cigarette tends to incline. theteeth-towards a more vertical plane, thereby releasing the cigarette,there is acertain resilient resistance to thistendency atthe ifoldiline which-causesthe teeth to return to wedging engagementwiththe remaining cigarette or cigarettes.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A cigarette package formed from a pair of blanks ofwsheetrmaterial including. a first blank folded 'to provide side, bottom and endwalls of ashell for a 'double row-of cigarettes and-a second blank folded to provide a double ply JPE-I'titiOHiBtEl'lTldiE-tfi thewen'd walls and'parallelto the sidewalls-of said shell to separate: one row of cigarettes 'IfIOl'l'l the other, eachply'of said'partition having a series of tooth like projections extending from its lower end, each vtoo'th being bent outwardly and upwardly towards an opposing side' wall of the shell intermediate two adjacent cigarettes of a row of same and in resilient of said-two cigarettes and-to similarly retain the one whenthe other is removed.

2.- A cigarette package asset forth in claim, 1, inwhich said-partition includes integrally formed endpanels projectin'goutwardly atopposite sides of said partition-and engagingthe adjacent surfaces ofsaid'sh'ell end walls.

7 2:. AIQigarettepackage as -se' t forthin'claim 2, including means :for. securing said end panelsto said end walls to prevent displacement: of said partition relative to said shell.

'4. .A. ci garette package asset forth in claim 1, including'means for securing the double plies of-said partition in 'face-to-face relation.

5. A cigarette package as set forth in claim 1, including a package top wall form-ing panel hingedly connected to the upper 'edgeof each of said double plies, one top wall'formingpanel serving to overlie one row of said cigarettes. and to closeone side of the package and the other top wall forming panel serving to overlie the other nection between said .top wall forming panel andthe correspondinggply of saidpartition, each of said flaps-servsidewall whenit he top wall forming panel to which ibis attached is inits closed'relation with the shell.

"7. Acigaret'te package as set forth .in claim 6,'including means for securing each of :said flaps to the correspondingshell side wall in said overlapping-relation.

8. A cigarette pack-age 'as :setforth in claim 5, in which the. hinge'connectionbetwe'en each 'of'said top wall-forming panels-andits corresponding partition ply is'inter rupted at spaced intervals to facilitate severance of said top wall forming. panel. from said partition ply along said hinge connection.

Q 9. Aciga're-ttev package-as set forthin claim l,-in which adjacent tooth-like projections are spaced apart-to form a. saddle in which-a 'cigeret'teis receivable in wedging engagement with said adjacent tooth-like projections. V

{"10. cigarette packageasset forth in claim 1,",in which said -t'ooth-likeprojections are, bentat an angle reater than to the'plane of said partition...

first outer end panel hingedly connected along one edge to one end edge of said first partition panel, a second partition panel, a first outer end panel hingedly connected along one end edge to one end edge of said second partition panel, said first and second partition panels being integrally connected along their remaining end edges by a series of intermediate panels including a second outer end panel hingedly connected to said remaining edge of the first partition panel, an end facing panel hingedly connected to said second outer panel of the first partition panel, and a second outer end panel hingedly connected to remaining edge of the first partition panel and to said end facing panel, said first blank being folded to dispose said first and second partition panels in face-to-face relation, the first outer end panels outwardly from said partition panels to conjointly provide an abutment Wall at one end of the partition, and said second outer end panels outwardly from said partition and in face-to-face engagement with one surface of said end facing panel, said second outer end panels and end facing panel forming a double ply abutment Wall at the other end of said partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,253,219 Dula Jan. 15, 1918 1,824,491 Molins Sept. 22, 1931 1,875,196 Molins Aug. 30, 1932 

